Breaking news
Formula 1
Hamilton: F1 tyres should be "three steps softer"
Formula 1 championship leader Lewis Hamilton wants tyre supplier Pirelli to move "three steps softer" with its 2019 selection in order to do away with "ridiculous" one-stop races.
Valentin Khorounzhiy
Published: Oct 5, 2018, 2:43 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Pirelli expanded its tyre range for this year, moving a step softer with its existing compounds and adding the all-new hypersoft tyre.
Despite this, all but three of the 16 races held so far this season have been won by drivers on a one-stop strategy.
Speaking ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, Hamilton said he will lobbying Pirelli for even softer tyres going forward.
He also advocated lowering tread thickness, which Pirelli did this year for races in Barcelona, Silverstone and Paul Ricard to combat overheating.
“I've really got to keep pushing Pirelli, because the tyres feel great here, but this whole one-stop business is just ridiculous,” Hamilton said.
“So next year I reckon they've got to go like three or four steps, maybe three steps softer.
“Swing them [the compounds] all lower so we have to do at least two stops per race.
“It's going to make it a little bit more challenging, and more grip, naturally, as you go to the softer compounds.
“And then the thinner gauge, so you have less of that thermal blisters that we see. And maybe we can be able to follow [other cars] and have more racing.”
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1
Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images
Hamilton topped both Friday practice sessions at Suzuka, and radioed to the team during FP2 that he was “having the best day” driving the W08 around the “awesome” Japanese venue.
“Just every time we come here, the last couple of years particularly, the cars are getting faster and faster, and it's incredible,” he said at the end of the day.
“The track - they don't make tracks like these anymore. There's very little room for run-off, a little touch of the grass and you're off in the wall.
“It's very marginal, on the limit, and it's so quick through that first section. It's probably one of my favourite circuits, if not the favourite.
“I'm on the edge everywhere. Honestly, naturally it gets easier once you get to Turn 13, got the long straight and 130R - it's easy from then for us.
“But the first and second section is insane. It's the best rollercoaster ride, that first section, that I've particularly felt in a Formula 1 car.
“I'm just loving driving more than ever. The rest of the day, eugh, but when you get in the car, it's just the best. It's honestly so much fun.”
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Honda's "big improvement" after upgrade setback explained
Next article Japanese GP: Hamilton fastest as Hulkenberg shunt ends FP3
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Valentin Khorounzhiy
WTCR's April opener cancelled due to coronavirus
WTCR
WTCR
Hungaroring
WTCR's April opener cancelled due to coronavirus
Australian GP issues update on nine F1 paddock coronavirus tests
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Australian GP issues update on nine F1 paddock coronavirus tests
Motorsport Games unveils 15 disciplines for 2020
General
General
Motorsport Games unveils 15 disciplines for 2020
More from
Lewis Hamilton
‘Lewis suspected a conspiracy’ – Nico Rosberg explains how Lewis Hamilton F1 rivalry went awry at Mercedes
Formula 1
Formula 1 8 h
‘Lewis suspected a conspiracy’ – Nico Rosberg explains how Lewis Hamilton F1 rivalry went awry at Mercedes
F1 driver contracts: How long is each driver tied down for?
Formula 1
Formula 1
F1 driver contracts: How long is each driver tied down for?
More from
Mercedes
Kimi Antonelli meets Italian president Sergio Mattarella
Formula 1
Formula 1 14 h
Kimi Antonelli meets Italian president Sergio Mattarella
Latest news
The ten closest finishes from the 2026 NASCAR season
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup 8 h
The ten closest finishes from the 2026 NASCAR season
‘Lewis suspected a conspiracy’ – Nico Rosberg explains how Lewis Hamilton F1 rivalry went awry at Mercedes
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 8 h
‘Lewis suspected a conspiracy’ – Nico Rosberg explains how Lewis Hamilton F1 rivalry went awry at Mercedes
BMW "proud of what we achieved" after securing runner-up in 2026 WEC
WEC
WEC WEC
Monza
10 h
BMW "proud of what we achieved" after securing runner-up in 2026 WEC
The numbers that reveal how sprint races have turned the MotoGP title fight upside down
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
12 h
The numbers that reveal how sprint races have turned the MotoGP title fight upside down
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe